Enzo Maresca insists that Chelsea’s high line defensive setup will be changed

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has stated that the Blues high line will be restructured before the start of the season following their defensive problem in their preseason games.

The Blues just ended their pre-season tour in the US with a 2-1 defeat by Spanish side Real Madrid with goals coming from Lukas and Diaz in the first half of the game.

Chelsea side conceded a total of 12 goals in their friendly games, which has made former Leicester City manager Enzo Maresca addressed the defensive issues, particularly the high defensive line, which he aims to adjust.

Maresca explained that playing a high line is a habit from previous seasons and that they are working on dropping the defensive line by about four or five meters to gain some advantage. He highlighted that the team had already conceded many goals last season due to this issue, and resolving it has been a priority since the beginning of pre-season. Despite the defensive concerns, Maresca is satisfied with the offensive progress, noting that the patterns and chance creation are in place.

Asked about the high line, he said: “It’s a habit. We are not working on defensive lines so high. It’s a habit from last year, or years ago; I don’t know. We are trying to drop the defensive line a little bit, usually about four or five metres, just to have some advantage.

“Last year, we already conceded many goals with this problem. Hopefully we can solve it very soon. It’s a problem we are trying to solve from pre-season, since day one. One of my first meetings with the squad was about the amount of goals we conceded last year with the defensive line very high.

“It’s something we are trying to work on. Today, offensively, we are there – the patterns are there. We created chances. The problem is defensively; when I say defensively I don’t just mean the defensive line, but in general, all the players.”

Maresca is hopeful of having key players such as Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson back to action for Chelsea’s opening Premier League fixture against Manchester City on 18 August.